Swedish Committee for Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, More than 87, 000 children ( 58% of whom were girls) attended more than 26,00 classes in schools supported by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA). Over two million people receive medical care each year at clinics and hospitals run by the organization. SCA also supports the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and contribute to development in rural areas.

Women, children, persons with disabilities and returnees benefit from SCA’s activities. Life becomes easier to live when there are schools for children in rural areas, midwives that reduce maternal mortality and prostheses for people with disabilities.

We empower people so that they can change their lives - to satisfy hunger and live with dignity is a right, not a gift.

SCA has over 6 000 Afghan employees, all contributing to stability in an unstable country. The programs are to the vast majority implemented in rural areas. SCA is operating in 14 of Afghanistan’s provinces.

For more than 35 years we have been present among those in Afghanistan who need us most; despite war and conflict. We have decided to stay as long as we are needed.

SCA has more than 3,000 members belonging to 12 local association and individual donors in Sweden, one local association in Afghanistan. Sida, the agency for development cooperation of the Swedish government, is the largest institutional donor.

History

SCA was founded in protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In 1981 SCA began to raise funds for humanitarian support for the Afghan people. One year later SCA opened an office in Peshawar, Pakistan, and started to send medicines and equipment to four small clinics in occupied Afghanistan.

In 1984 the first primary school was founded, and three years later SCA began to work in rural development. The programme for support to persons with disabilities started in 1992. Since then SCA has continued to work for our vision of an Afghanistan free from poverty, violence, and discrimination. Gradually SCA has shifted from merely humanitarian service delivery to a development organization.